Cap forming and assembling machine



Jan. 25,1944. H, A, RAU 2,339,807

CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 avel-afar B5 Raw. cmewlflgcwem Jan. 25, 1944-. H. A. RAU

,CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Fild Aug. 5, 1940 11 Sheets-Shep 2 Harry A, g,

Jan. 25, 1944. H A. mp 233930? CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Alig. 3, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 25, 1944. H. A. RAU

I CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACEIN Filed Aug. 3; 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 25, 1944. H. A. RAU 2,339,807

CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 (f! B 107 J10 102 Jan. 25, 1944. H. A. RAU

CAP FORMING 'AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 25, 1944.

H. A. RAU

CAP F ORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 Harry A. Raw.

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Jan. 25, 1944. H A, AU' 2,339,807

CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 25, 1944.

H. A. RAU 7 CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 3, 1940 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 Jan.25, 1944. H -A R U 2,339,807

CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 11 Sheets-Sheet l0 Jan. 25, 1944-. H. A. RAU

CAP FORMING AND ASSEMBLING MACHINE l1 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Aug. 3, 1940 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 UNITED sr CAP FORD/ENG AND ASSELING MACHINE Harry A. Rau, Baltimore, Md, assignor to Crown Cork Specialty Corporation; a corporation of Illinois Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 3505707 (01. za -s4).

7 Claims.

The present inventlonrelates to a cap forming and assembling machine.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is particularly adapted for forming from a substantially oval and cupped blank provided with projecting cars a completed cap of the type disclosed in the patent to Carl McQuinn, for

Pouring spout and closure, No. 2,126,651, issued' August 9, 1938. A completed cap of the above type includes a pivoted locking lever to enable thecap to be firmly clamped upon a container mouth and the present apparatus includes means to assemble such a locking lever with the cap blank.

The principal object-of the invention is to provide a machine including mechanisms which will successively actupon a cap blank at high speed'to shape the cap blank to the desired completed form. g

' Afurther object of the invention is to provide means to form liners and position them in cap blanks.

Another object is toprovide arrangements for delivering locking levers to the caps and properly assembling the levers in the caps.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus such as described above, which is capable of operation at high speed without danger of any of the mechanisms of the apparatus being damaged should a jam occur at any point.

A still further object of the. invention is to provide an apparatus of the above type which is of such construction that should any cap become jammed therein, the machine can readily be manually operated to release the jammed article so that the machine can resume normal operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide various improved devices for feeding articles to a, machine of the above general type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawings, wherein: v

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation, the view being taken from the direction of the arrow marked Figure 2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevation of themachine as viewed from the right of Figure .1, and the left of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and also the lined-4 of Figure-3.

l igure '5 isa perspective. View of. the blank infeed-mechanism.

blank ear piercing die.

p mfFEHI? 1.. r

Figurefi is a fragmentary top plan view of the blank infeed mechanism. I Figure 7 is a detail perspective of the blan feed controlling element. 3 Figure 8 is a perspective view of ablank. v Figure 9 is a "detail perspective view of: the blank ear' piercing mechanism.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view onthe line iii-it of Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows the elements of the female Figure 12 is a perspective ears have been pierced.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the blank ear piercing mechanism. a

Figure 14 is a view looking toward the right of Figure 13 and showing the rear side of the-blank ear piercing mechanism. 1

Figure 15 is adetail of the ear piercirigdie. Figure 16 is an exploded view'showing the male blank ear piercing die.

Figure 17 is a vertical-sectional View on the line l'F-Il of Figure 13. Y

Figure 17a is a detailed perspective of an airblast nozzle provided adjacent the blank ear piercing mechanism.

Figure 18 is a perspective of the lip bending mechanism.

of a blank after the Figure 19 is avertical sectional view through being taken radially of the machine.

Figure 26 is a perspective of a liner.v

Figure 27 is a vertical sectional view through the locking lever inserting station, the View being taken radially of the machine.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of thelocking lever supporting and feeding arm.

Figure 29 is a perspectiveview of a completely assembled cap. 7

Figure 30 is a vertical sectional view through the locking lever feed chute, the lower portion of the view showing the outer end of the locking lever inserting station. t

Figure 31 is aperspective view of the locking lever feed control.

Figure-32is a disassembled view of. the mecha- Figure 33 is a perspective view of a cap blank and the die for bending the blank ears inwardly. Figure 34 is a transverse vertical sectional view on the line 34-34 of Figure 30.

Figure 35 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a portion of Figure 30.

Figure 35a is a detailed perspective View of the lower portion of the locking lever supply chute.

Figure 36 is a front view of the ear bending die, and

Figure 37 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 31-31 of Figure 4.

The mechanisms disclosed in the present apparatus are primarily intended for the formation of a cap of the type disclosed in the patent to Carl McQuinn for Pouring spout and closure, No. 2,126,651, issued August 9, 1938. Such a cap is illustrated at C in Figure 29 and generally com-' prises a body portion CI and a lockinglever C2 which includes trunnions C3 mounted in apertures provided in ears C4 extending from the rear end of the cap body.

The present apparatus forms the completed cap body portion C of Figure 29 from the body blank B shown inverted in Figure 8 and which comprises a. top wall C5 of generally oval form provided with a marginal skirt C6. Skirt C6 is deepened at its forward end on gradually curving lines to form a lip as indicated at C1 and also deepens at the other end toward the ears 04 which extend from the body portion on lines substantially parallel to the major diameter of the oval top wall. A

low skirt portion C8 joins the ears C4, this skirt being-of approximately the same depth as the major portion of the skirt CE. During the formation of the completed cap C of Figure 29 from the blank B of Figure 8, the present apparatus also inserts a liner or sealing pad L (Figure 29) in the cap body portion and fits the locking lever C2 in place between the ears C4.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS AND ITS OPERATION the rotating dial I I througha cap infeed chute I4 (Figure 2) provided with suitable feed control means. The blanks B move down in chute l4 in the position shownin Figure 6, that is, with the ears C4 rearward, so that these ears will lie at the outer portion of the pocket l3.

The pockets I3 extend entirely through the dial II and during the time that blanks are moving with the dial they rest and slide upon a stationary supporting plate I5.

. As is generally illustrated in Figure 1, when a cap blank B has been positioned in one of the pockets I3 of dial I I, the dial will move clockwise, a stepata time, the second such movement bringing'the pocket and cap blank opposite a blank ear piercing station I6. At this station the cap blank will be moved upwardly out of its pocket I3 by a plunger so as to be presented between two horizontally moving piercing dies, as best shown in Figures 9 to 17, so that apertures C9 will be punched in the ears C4 as shown in Figure 12.

2,339,807 I 151; iii-1' The dial then rotates forward one step to position the cap blank beneath an air-blast device I! shown in Figure 17a, which will remove from the cap blank the two small particles of metal which have been dropped within the same at the piercing station IS. A third forward movement of the dial II conducts the blank beneath a station I8 at which the die structure illustrated in Figures 18 to 22 will bend the ears C4 of the blank to the formation illustrated in Figure 22, that is, so that the ears will be bent outwardly from the vertical planes best illustrated in Figure 6 to the inclined planes illustrated in Figure 22. The station I8 also bends the lip 01 of the blank inwardly to form a web CI 0 diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 21,

A further rotation of the dial II, preferably by two steps, carries the cap blank to a liner inserting station I9, best illustrated in Figures 23 to 25, wherein a liner'L of the form shown in Figure 26 will be inserted in the cap by the device be'stillus- "trated in Figure 25. Liner L' is' punched from a ,strip of-liner material L by a die mechanism 20 shown in Figure 25. Further movement of the dial I I will conduct the blank B with the liner '1.

inserted therein to a locking lever insertirigsta; tion 2| best shown in Figure 2'7, 'At this station, a locking lever C2 of the form best illustrated in Figure 36 and including oppositely projecting pivot tangs or trunnions C3 will be positioned'between the ears C4 of the blank B, with the trunnions C3 aligned with the ear apertures'C9, an'd the ears will simultaneously be bent inwardly to the form illustrated in Figure 29 so that the trunnions will project through the ears. In thisposition the ears will lie in substantially the same plane as they had when they entered the 'machine, but will' be very slightly closer. to' each other so as to snugly engage the sides of the looking lever. ,7

From station 2I the now completely assembled caps will be moved by a further rotation of the dial II to an outfeed chute 22 for removalfrom the machine.

fsupporting structure" and drive mechanism Asbest shownin Figures 2 to 4 the table Ills supported at three edges upon vertical walls'29, 30 and 3|. As indicated in Figure 4, shaft I2is journaled adjacent its upper end in table II] and its lower end is journaled in a spider 28 suppqrted from the vertical walls of the machine. ,IThe various horizontally extending shafts of theapparatus are journaled in the walls 29 and 3|.

- Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the main drive shaft ing shaft 4| journaled in the vertical wa1l 29.

At its upper end shaft 4| has keyedtheretoa cam which, as best shown in Figure '37, engageS a lever' 46 mounted intermediate its length on a pin 41 suitablysupported from the sidewall 29 so that lever 46 may swing horizontally; Lever 45 is provided'on each side of its pivot with a roller 48-whichcontacts with cam 45 and beyond pivot 41 the lever has a coil spring 45a connected thereto so that roller 48 will be held in contact with cam 45. The end of the lever which :carries of. the dial. gagement with the aperture 61 by a suitable nut roller 43 pivotally supports a bracket 49 in which a-rod"50 is slidably mounted. Rod 50 is fitted with spaced collars and 52 and extends-through the bracket 49 so that collar 52 will normally bear upon the rear surface of the bracket by the action of a coilspring 53 which encircles rod 55 between the inner face of a socket in bracket 49 and collar 5|.

At its free end rod 55 is pivotally connected bya link 55 with an arm 55 extending from a collar 51 (Figure 4) journaledon shaft i2 immediately below a notched disc 58 keyed to shaft I2. Collar 51 has a second arm 58 extending therefrom at an angle to arm 56. A pawl 50 is mounted on the link 55 to coact with the notched disc58 by the action of a spring 6|.

Rotation of the vertical shaft 41 will cause the high point 45a of cam 45 to swing lever 45 to the left in Figure 3'7 with the result that a slight rotating movement will be imparted to the notched disc 58, keyed to shaft [2, this rotatable movement being in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 37 and. of sufficient extent to advance the pocketed clial ll one step in the same direction by a drive connection hereinafter described. Figure 31 shows the rod 59 and pawl 60 in the relation to the notched disc 58 which they will occupy at the completion of such an advancing movement. When the high spot of cam 45 moves from beneath roller 48 lever 45 will 7 be drawn to the right (in Figure 37) by the action of spring 45a. During such movement toothed wheel 58 will be held stationary by a pawl 62 and initial portion of the succeeding driving movement, pawl 64 subsequently dropping into the succeeding notch to prevent overrunning of disc 58. The pawls 62 and 64 are connected by a coil spring in order to urge them into engagement.

It will be noted from Figure 4 that the dial H is not keyed to dial shaft [2 but is simply journaled on the shaft, the driving connection between the shaft and the dial being obtained through an arm 65 keyed to the extreme upward end of shaft l2 and provided with a pin 68 which extends into an aperture 6'! in one of the spokes Pin 56 is held downwardly in enand, should the dial become jammed, pin 63 may be disconnected therefrom so that the dial can be swung by hand to clear the jam.

The cap blanks are lifted out of the pockets 13 of the dial H for some of the operations performed thereon at the various stations on the .machine and vertical plungers, hereinafter referred to in detail, are provided beneath such stations and are adapted to be lifted to raise the cap blanks at the, proper moment. These plungers are carried upon a circular plate best shown in Figure 4 and which is mounted to vertically slide upon the. dial carrying shaft I2.

.Plate It has a pair of depending rods 1 l pivoted to its hub and these rods are provided with rollers willbe lifted by the action of the rods H upon each rotation of shaft 38.

Most of the stations which operate. upon-the caps also includeplungers or other cap engaging elements which move downwardly 'to'actupon the cap. These plungers are operated from a horizontally extending rock. shaft "I5 jourrialled in supports 16 which extendupwardly from the table I0. In order to impart a rocking movement to shaft 15 it has a rocker arm 11 fixed thereto which is connected at its outer end to a vertical link 18 which extends down alongside the machine, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4, to a pivotal connection with a generally horizontally extending lever 19 which is pivoted on shaft 32 and 'then extends into engagement with a cam fixed on the other horizontal shaft 38 (Figure 4). The latter-end of lever 19 is provided with a. roller iii to engage cam 81 A spring 82 serves to maintain link 18 downwardly and thereby hold roller 8! in contact with cam 80.

As shown in Figure 2, the machine includes a clutch of any suitable type interposed in shaft 32, this clutch being generally designated by the numeral 8t and operated through various link arrangements by means of levers 85 and 35- provided at opposite ends of the machine in order that the clutch may readily be controlled by the operator.

A hand wheel 54 is provided on the driven portion of shaft '32 to enable the machine to'be turned by hand.

Other drive connections of the machine are hereinafter described in connection with the cap forming stations to which they are connected.

C'ap blank feeding station Figures 5 to '7 illustrate the cap blank feeding station It in detail, and the relation of this station to the remainder of the machine is best shown in Figure l.

The cap blank feeding station includes a chute I59 in the upper end of which the cap blanks B are placed by hand by an operator with their ears C4 uppermost as indicated in Figure 6. In order to prevent the cap blanks from sliding on top of each other and also to prevent them from swinging to an angular position in chute lilil, a bar itl extends longitudinally of the chute intermediate the chute side walls and at a proper distance above the bottom wall of the chute. .Bar Hi! is carried upon spaced brackets I0! pivotally connected to one side wall of the chute.

In order to assure that only one cap will be fed at a time into the extreme lower portion of the chute, a stop mechanism N35 is provided near the bottom portion of the chute, this mechanism comprising a plate [06 including trunnions I07 extending through ears I08 extending downwardly'from the side walls of the chute. Plate I05 includes a pair of pins IE9 at its upper end and a second pair of pins H0 at its lower end which are adapted to project through apertures III in the bottom wall of chute 14, the pairs of pins being spaced apart just such distance. that a cap may rest against the lower pins i it and its body portion will at that time be clear of the apertures in which the upper pins I09 move.

The plate IE5 is rocked by means hereinafter described, so that when the lowermost set of pins Iii) extend upwardly through the apertures iii, thereby holding back the line of cap blanks in the chute above these pins, the uppermost pins Hi9 will be retracted below the bottom wall of the chute. When the plate I06 is rocked toits opposite position to causethe, uppermost pins I09 to be projected through the corresponding apertures III, the cap blanks above the pins I09 will be held against movement, but the single blank adjacent the lower end of the shaft to direct a blast of air against caps moving through the lower portion thereof and propel them into the aligned pocket. A plate II6 mounted on the up- .per surface of the lower end of chute I4 extends outwardly over the dial II to prevent the cap blank from being lifted out of the pocket by the blast of air.

The cap stop mechanism I05 is rocked by means of a mechanism including an arm H3 projecting downwardly from the plate I 06 and connected by a link I I9 to a relatively long rocking arm I20 pivoted intermediate its length to a bracket I2I secured to the table I 0. The lower end of arm I20 is provided with a roller I22 which a spring I 23 holds in contact with a cam I24 carried at the upper end of the vertical shaft 4i. The mounting of this cam is also shown in Figure 4.

It will be observed that the caps fed into the pockets I3, of dial II will have their ears C4 The supporting plate I5 outermost in the dial. which is carried on the table I beneath the dial II supports the cap in the dial pocket at can feeding station I4 and also supports the blank during its travel from the cap feeding station I4 to the blank ear piercing station I6.

It will be understood that feed device I is synchronized with the movement of the dial I I so as to feed a cap to the dial immediately a dial pocket is aligned with chute I00.

Blank ear piercing station The dial II will make two step by step movements after the insertion of a cap blank in a pocket and before that cap blank reaches the ear piercing station I6 illustrated in Figures 9 to 1'7.

As best shown in Figure 9 the ear piercing station I6 comprises an upstanding plate I30 having its edges bevelled to be engaged by the correspondingly beveled inner surfaces of the flanges I 3| of a reciprocable plate-member I32 carried on the rear face of fixed plat I30. Slidable plate I32 carries an ear I33 centrally of its upper edge which is secured to plate I32 by a bolt I34 threaded into a socket I35 in the plate as illustrated in Figure 10. The upper end of bolt I34 serves as a contact member against which a striking head I36 hereinafter described abuts to cause plate I 32 to be moved downwardly with respect to fixed plat I30. The position of bolt I34 with regard to sliding plate I32 may be adjusted by rotation of the bolt in the socket I35, the bolt then being -held in adjusted position by a lock nut. Sliding plate I32 is normally held upwardly with respect to fixed plate I30 and in the position indicated in Figure 9 by reason ofthe fact that the ear I33 .is apertured at its forward portion to surround a bolt I31 mounted in a socket I38 on .x the rear face of fixed plate I30, bolt I31 being surro n edbye oi s n -.1 9 which n rma l maintains ear I33 and hence plate I32 in upward position. p I

As is also best-shown in Figure 10, the fixed plate I has a housing I40 extending inwardly from its forward face in which a downwardly projectingplunger MI is resiliently supported. More particularly, plunger MI is carried in a counterbore I42 within a sleeve I43 fixed in a bore I44 extending'vertically through the housing I40 and all so arranged that the plunger I will be positioned centrally with respect to a pocket I3 of the dial II. In order to maintain plunger MI in a downward position its upper and headed and has a coil spring I45 bearing thereon mounted within the sleeve I43. The tension of the coil spring may be adjusted by a set screw I46 threaded in the upper end of sleeve I43. As best shown in Figure 13, in its normal downward position, the lower end of plunger I4I extends below the upper surface of dial II and into a circumferential groove Ila provided in the upper face of the dial. Groove I la is of such depth that its lower surface wil1 be approximately flush with the upper edge of the shallow side portion of the skirt C6 of a cap blank,

Sleeve I43 is held in proper position in the bore I44 by means of a nut I41 threaded upon the upper end of the sleeve and bearing upon the upper face'of the housing I40. Nut I41 draws a flange I48 on the lower end of the sleeve up against the lower face of the housing, the flange I48 being radially slotted as indicated in Figure 10 to engage a pin I49 extending downwardly from the lower face of the housing; the pin thereby preventing the sleeve from rotating with respect to the housing;

On its lower rearward face the sleeve I43 carries an anvil member I50 secured in a groove I5I by means of a bolt as indicated in Figures 10 and The anvil member includes two depending lugs I52, the outer faces of these lugs being so spaced with respect to each other that they will fit fairly snugly between the ears C4 of a cap blank B, so that the ears will be braced during the piercing thereof by reciprocable punch pins I as best indicated in Figure 17.

The punch pins I55 are fixed within cylindrical rack elements I56 slidable in bores I51 extending "horizontally through the extreme lower portion of the fixed housing I40. It will be observed I from Figure 14 that the punch pins I55 are oprearward movement of the punch pins being prevented by rear set screws and locknuts.

As shown in Figure 15, the rack teeth I59.of

'each rack element I56 are engaged by a set of gear teeth I63 on a pinion element I64 rotatably mounted in a bore I65 extending from front to rear of each side of the housing I40. The'extreme rear endsof the pinion elements I64 are faces of wings-I68 which depend from the side and rear portions of the slidable-plate I32. The

. pinion elements -I64--are prevented from moving-rearwardly in the'sockets I65 by the engagemerit therewith of plates I10 secured to the rear faces of the wings II 58 by set screws I1-I The operation :of the ear piercing mechanism ;I 6 isasfollows: :In presenting a cap blank B to the piercing station I :the blank moving on positioning dial II will stop with the eap blank in exact alignment with a-bla-nk supporting plunger I15 which at the same time has its upperface exactly'fiush with the upper face of the circular blank supporting plate 15 along which the cap blank has been sliding. Immediately the dial stops its motion supporting plunger I15 will be raised by reason of theupward movement of the vertically reciprooable plate 10. The header supporting lunger H5 is of the outline of a capblank B and the plunger moves through an aperture I15 in stationary table I0. Also, plunger I15 is resilientlyconnected to reciprocable plate 10 by the spring -connection-generally indicated I11 in Fig ure 9 so that reciprocable plate 10 may moveupwardly about the stem of plunger I should upward movement of the plunger be prevented when the plate moves upwardly.

Plunger-l15 will rise sufficiently with plate 10 toicarry the cap blank B'upwardly out of the dial pocket 13 and bring .the uppermost face of the cap blank top wall into contact with the upper plunger I4-I so-that the cap "blank will be securely clamped between the two plungers. best indicated in Figure 17, such upward movement of the cap blank will brin the ears C4 of 'thela'tter into position between the anvilears I52 and the punch pins I55. With the cap blank in this positien :the driving mechanism of the machine is so timed that the horizontal rock shaft 15 (Figure 1-) will .be operated through .link 18 to bring a ta-ppet arm I80 which "carries striker I36 into contact with the bolt 134 on sliding -.pla-te I32 so that plate I32 will be forced downwardly with respect to upstanding fixed plate I and against the action of the spring I30. Such downward. movement of the plate I32 will cause 'thesrack plates I61. (Figure 14) to move downwardly to rotate the pinion elements I64 by meshing *engagem'ent with the rearward teeth 1156 of these elements. This rotation of the pinion elements 454 will cause the forward teeth I53 of these elements to move the rack elements I59 and the punch pins I carried thereby towardeachother so that the inner ends of the punch pins are moved through the ears C4 of the cap blank and into the apertures ofthe anvil ears I52. When the tappet I36 of tappet arm I rises, sliding plate I32 will move upwardly by the action of spring 139 so as to cause the punch pins 155 to retract and immediately thereafter the recipro- 'c'able plate I55 *will'move downwardly so that the :cap blank B will be returned .to downward position within the pocket I 3 of the dial I I.

The idial II will "then move one step forward to bring the cap blank opposite an "airblaststaticn 11 best illustrated in Figure 17a so that a blast of air will be directed downwardly against the capiblank to blow from the latter the fragments of meta-l punched from the ears C4 at station I5. During the interval that a :cap blank B is at the station I1, it will rest upon the supporting plate I15 but th'isplate may be apertured opposite the blast nozzle I1 if desired and as shown in Figure l'la.

; Insome instances a chute may be placed close to and behind the anvil I52 of ear piercing station IE to receive the punchings and in such case the air blast station 'may be eliminated.

The lear spreading cmid skirt-bending station Station I8 at which the ears C4 of theblank are spread slightly apart to subsequently receive alocking lever C2 and'the forward portiono'f the skirt or "the blankis ben-t 'to form a web CIIl, as

"best shown inFigures 1 8 to'22.

Station I 8 eomprisesa bracket 'I "fixed to the table 10 and "including an inwardly extending upper portion "I86 which overhangs the periphery of dial II, as shown 'in Figure l9. 'The portion 1'85 of bracket I85 is provided with a vertical bo-re "I51 inwhic'h 'asleeve I88'is positioned, the

sleeve being supported in "the bore' by a nut "I 80 threaded on its upper end to "hold a flange 190 on the sleeve upwardly against the under face of the overhanging portion I86. h 'slo't in iian'ge -590=engages a fixed'pin 'I9"I to prevent the sleeve Iirom turning "in the bore 131. Sleeve j I8'8 is ccunterb'ored "to "support a plunger I92, the plunger being urged to downward position'lin groove dial- I' Ia'by a coil spring I93. At it'slower portion-and onthe side thereof-"facing -the-center of the machine the sleeve I38 carries apivoted anvil member 105. On its opposite face sleeve I88 is grooved to carry a spreading die I 51, the lower end of which'is bevl'edasshown in Figure -22. hereinafter described, spreading die I91 spreads the ears C0 "of the cap blank while the pivoted anvil'niemb'er T95 cooperates 'with a roller die 200 to bend the forward edge of the skirt of the cap blank.

In order that the roller die 200 will have an inward and upward movement with respect to the anvil I05, "roller 200 is carri'ed'at the lower end of an angled lever 20I pivoted as indicated at 2'02 between the lugs 203 extending inwardly from the bracket I315. The extreme upper end of lever 20 is "bifurcated to support a transvers'e pm 204 adapted to be engagediin the notched end 206 of an arm '2!" pivotally connected to a relatively short crank arm 2208 extending upwardly from the'upper 'rock shaft 15 of' the machine. The pin 204 oflever 201 is urged into engagement with the "notched end of farm 20? by means of a'coil spring 2 I0 connecting the dever 20'I and crank arm 2'00. 'llhe releasable bonnection of lever 20I to link 201 permits the two elements to move relatively to' each other in the event that any 'jam occurs.

The operation of the structure provided at station I0 is as follows: A cap blank presented *at station It will be moved by dial onto a plunger 2I5 supported for vertical reciprocation in the table I0 in alignment with upper plunger "IS-2. Plunger '215 is adapted to be moved upwardly, immediately a cap blank is placed there- 'on, by the regular upward movement of the vertically 'rec'ipro'cable plate 10 to 'which the plunger 21 5 is resiliently connected so that plate I0 may move upwardly with respect 'to the plunger if a "jam occurs. Such upward movement of theplunger 215 will lift the cap blank from the dial pocket-I3 into contact with the -lower end of the plunger192 and still fu-r'ther upward movement of plunger '2'I'5wil1 bring the ears C4 of the cap blank alongside the beveled slower portion of spreading die I01 soth'at these "cars will be spread at the upper portions, as best indicated in Figure 22.

At the same time, such upward movement of 'thecap blank will cause the forward and higher portion '01 of "its skirt to move up alongside "the pivoted anvil member "105. Immediately thereafter the bending Fro'ller 200 will swing inwardly to iron the extreme upper portion of sl'zirt'portion'CI over the upper face of 'the anvil I95; It will be observed that the conformation of anvil member I95 is such that a lower face I95a thereof will lie against the body or top wall of the cap and a second face I951) will lie against the cap skirt while the third face will form a support for the bent over portion CIO of the skirt. At the time that the cap blank rises with the plunger 2 I 5, the anvil I95, by reason of its pivoted support, may hang downwardly at a slight angle but the lifting of the cap blank will swing the anvil member I95 to bring the face I95a thereof into contact with the body or top wall of the blank so that the remaining walls of the anvil member will be properly disposed with respect to the cap blank. 1

As soon as bending roller 29!) is swung outwardly again by the action of the rockshaft I5 the supporting plunger 2I5 will descend. During the initial portion of this descent the cap blank will still have the upper plunger I92 hearing thereon so that as the blank moves away from anvil member I95 the latter will be caused to swing downwardly to clear the overhanging of web portion CI of the blank and the blank earswill be readily withdrawn from about the spreading die I91.- When the plunger, 2| 5 returns to normal position and the cap blank is entirely clear of the upper plunger I92 the dial II will rotate to conduct the blank to the next station.

The liner inserting station plunger 234 may then descend to seat the linersquarely within the blank. I

The roll stand 239 comprises an upright framework in which is journalled a lower roll 236 and an upper roll 237. Both rolls preferably have roughened surfaces so that they will forward the liner strip L without slippage. Upper roll 231 has its shaft extending through-vertical slots 238 in the side walls of the frame 238 and arms 239 free on the shaft are engaged by coil springs 240 plunger 234 are reciprocably mounted in a castmg 257 supported above the table I0 on the brackets 258. The liner strip guiding channel 255 extends beneath the outward portion of the casting 257 and the punch 23I is mounted in this portion, the punch being carried by a sleeve 260 keyed as indicated at 26I in a bore 262 in the casting. A spring 263 mounted in a counterbore of bore 262 has its upper end in contact with lock nuts 264 threaded upon the sleeve 260. Thebore 265 of sleeve 260 has an ejector plunger 266 mounted therein and the lower end 261 of this plunger is normally held flush with the lower surface of the male punch die element 2620 by means of a coil spring 269. Coil spring 269 is mounted within a counterbore of the sleeve 266 with its upper end in contact with a lock nut 210 threaded on the upper end of the ejector plunger 265.

As best shown in Figure 25, the male punch die 262a is normally in alignment with an aperture 212 in the upper wall of the channel member 255, and the liner strip L is supported in grooves 255a formed between the upper wall and a female die or aperture 255!) which flares downwardly. When a tappet 214 descends into contact with the upper end of the ejector plunger 266 it will bring the plunger into contact with the liner strip L. Spring 269 will then be sufliciently compressed to exert force upon the die carrying sleeve 269 so that the latter will be moved downwardly through the liner strip L' to punch out a r liner L. This punching action will sufliciently retardthe movement of the die carrying sleeve 259 that plunger 266 will move slightly further downwardly to free the punched out liner which will then fall downwardly through the flaring aperture 25512 and into a horizontal slideway 218.

slideway 218 has the feed bar 232 mounted therein, this feed bar being connected at its outer end to a link 280 extending to a vertical lever to hold the upper roll under tension. In order to permit upper roll 231 to be lifted there is provided a cam rod 242 pivotally mounted on a cross bar 243 fixed to arms 244 which are also free on the roll shaft. The ca-m rod 242 is adapted to engage the upper wall of the frame 230.

The springs 24!! tend to hold the. shaft of up-' I per roll 23'! in a downward position. Upper roll 23'! is geared to lower roll 236 by means of pinions generally indicated by the numeral 246, the teeth of the pinions being sufficiently deep to permit the position of the upper roll to be adjusted somewhat the pinions out of mesh.

The lower roll 236 is not vertically movable and carries a ratchet wheel 249 which is en'- gaged by aspring pressed pawl 249 pivotally mounted on an arm 259 loosely journalled on the shaft 25 I of lower rol1236. Arm 259 is adapted to be oscillated about the roll shaft 25Iby a link 252 connected to the vertically reciprocable plate.

II! (as best shown in Figure'2) through the medium of a lever 253 pivoted ona bracket"253o without moving 28!; 'As best shown in Figure 3, lever 28I is pivoted at 282 to the side wall 3| of table III. A link 283 extends from the lower portion of the lever 28I through the side wall 3| and as illustrated in Figure 2 is pivotally connected to the depending arm of a bell crank 284 pivotedto the table structure. The horizontal arm of the bell crank 284 is in contact with a tappet 285 carried by the reciprocating plate I0. By the above arrangement, when plate It movesupwardly the upper end of lever 28] will be drawn inwardlyiby the coil spring 28! which extends between the upper end of lever 25. and the-table I ll. Feed-bar 232 will therefore be moved inwardly to move the punched liner through the slideway 218 and into the cap blank B carried by thepocket I3. of dial II which is at that moment alignedwith the slideway and supported upon the fixed support 233 which extends upwardly from table I0.

Referring to Figure 25, the plunger 234 which is aligned with the cap blank B comprises'a stem 290 having afoot piece 29I threaded to its lower end. Stem' 290 moves in the bore .ofa sleeve 292 removablysecured in the: casting-251 an asappears irom .Eigure- 23, the plunger is prov ded at its-upper end with ahead 293,. A coil spring 2% ispqsitioned between thehead 293 and the upper end of the sleeve 292. againstxrotationin sleeve 292 by engagement of a slot in a'flange on the plunger foot piece 29! with a pin fixed to the lower face. of casting 25?. The extreme lower portion of the plunger'is bifurcatedto provide a slot'in which a shoe 29'! of plate-like formis pivotallymounted upon a fixed cross pin 298,.

Shoe 1291 includes a downwardly inclined edge 299 which facesthe outer end of the slideway 218 and-which is contacted by the lower end of a bent leaf-spring 361lfixed to the foot-piece 291. Spring 300. thereby'holds an upper edge till of shoe 291 in contact with the upper wall of the slot in which it is carried. The remainder of the upper edge of shoe 291 is substantially parallel to its lower edge 299.

At the moment that the liner L is initially moved'into the cap blank B, the shoezs'l' will be in the position illustrated in Figure 25 so that the leading edge of the incoming liner will be do- -fiected downwardlyand guided-beneath the overhanging web CID-of the capblank. Immediately thereafter the plunger 234 will descend and duringl this descent the shoeZill will rock upwardly "on pin 298 so that a'fiat surface will be presented to the liner toforce it down to a fiat position within the cap blank. The liner will then fit snugly within the blank. As the plunger 234 rises the foot 29? again will be swung downwardly by the action of spring 380 to the position shown in Figure 25.

The plunger 290 is moved downwardly against 'the action of spring 284 by a tappet 394 which,

as best shown in Figure '2, is fixed to the horizontal rock shaft 15. Rock shaft 85 also carries an arm 395 which carries the tappet 2H for actuating the punch die 23! as hereinbefo-re described.

It will be observed that the punch 23! will'be actuated simultaneously with the actuation of the plunger 234 and that when these elements rise the dial ll will move to present a new cap blank beneath the plunger 234, whereupon feed bar 232 willbe moved'inwardly to conduct the freshly punched liner to the new cap blank. The resulting descent of punch 23i will cause the liner formed thereby to drop upon the upper side of the feed bar 232, but-when the feed bar retracts to a position beyond the aperture 255b, a newly punched liner will then drop in front of the feed bar,

The locking lever inserting station The station 2lat which a locking lever C2 is inserted in each cap blank is best illustrated in :Figures 27 and 30, and may be generally described as comprising a supply chute 315 (Figure 30) for the locking levers which is controlled by agate device 3I5 (see also Figure 3-1) to deliverlocking levers oneat a time to a-reciprocable feeding element 3H. The feeding element 35? conducts each locking lever to the cap blank C which is at that time supported upon a lower plunger 318 reciprocable beneath an upper plunger 3 i t. When the leveris in proper position with respect to the arms (140i the cap blank these arms are bent inwardlyby horizontally reciprocating dies 32%.

Referring to FigureSO, the, supply chute 355 is suitably supported from the base of the machine and comprises a chute or trough element-3ft Plunger 23d is held 3,26 and 32%. Considered longitudinally, the chute 3E5 disclcsedherein comprises an infeed end 328 which is inclined downwardly at asufficient angle to cause the locking levers to slide downwardly along the same and then a more steeply angled middle section 329 and, finally, an cutieed portion 335] which is initially still more steeply inclined than the portion 329 but has its downward end curved so that looking levers will be upright, that is, will lie in a'vertical plane, when they move from the same into the reciprocable feeding element 3-H. v

The icedcontrol device 3% is positioned at the lower portion of the middle section 329 of the chute. From the feed'control device 3 l6 upwardly to a. point a slight distance :from the extreme upper end of the chute, the chute side wa1l326 is provided with an upstanding plate 333 (Figure 34) fixed'to the outer surface of the wall, the plate having an overhanging upper edge 334 spaced a substantial distance above the top edge of chute wall 32%. The opposite chute wall 32?. has a plate spaced above its-top edge, which plate extends inwardly over the chute to a point slightly past the inner surface of chutewall 32?. Plate 335 is carried. upon suitable brackets as in dicatedat 33d and-the extreme upper end of plate 335 is downwardly inclinedtoward-the upper surface of chute Wall 322i as indicated at 335a in Figure so.

.- "By the above arrangement, an operator mayd'rop locking levers C2 into the upper end of chute 3i25, it only being necessary for theoperator to place the shank of the locking levers down; wardly in the chute and with the trunnion portion of the levers nearest the chute wall 326, which Wallis innermostwitli respect to the machine. Locking levers thus placed in the chutew-ill slide downwardly so that their cam pcrtionsCl I will ride up the inclined upper end 335a, of -plate3 35 to-rest or hang on that plate a e-shown inFigure 3d. The inner surface of the chute wall 3-2? will then contactwitlrthe arched portion G l-2 of-the shank-and the hump (H3 or the lever will, con-.- tact' with the inner surface of the plate 333,

Since each lever is hanging upon the-5plate-335 by its :upper portion, its shank CH4 will, by its own weight, swing very slightly in a-ccunterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 35 sothat, as indicated in that figure, the downwardly directed trunnion lug 03 will ride up upon the upwardly directed trunnion lug C3 of the preceding locking lever in :the chute. Thus, theyadjacentlocking leverswill have "the relationship shown-in Figure 35, that is, with each locking lever having its .downward'trunnion nested above the upper trunnion of the preceding locking lever; 1

The stop mechanism" 316 comprises a pair of horizontal arms '34fland 34!, respectivelywprovided' with' depending shanks 342 and 343, These arms are vertically reciprocable ina-bleck'structure generally designated by the numeral 344,

block'3 lt as indicated in Figure 32, this groove being normally-closed by a plate 348a asshown in Fi ure 31, 'rhea m 401ts lf extends alon iaihc-rizontdl-groove 3min the top surgiaceoithe which, a est sho in Figure. 3.4-, is. ushered in vertical section and includes upstanding walls block 344. The shank 343 of arm 34! extends downwardly through a groove 349 which faces the chute wall 321, the arm 34! normally being partially within this groove as indicated in Figure 3|.

The two arms 34!] and 34! are urged to downward positions in block 344 by coil springs 350 connected to the lower ends of their shanks and the arms are automatically raised by the engagement of rocker arms 35! extending in opposite directions from a rock shaft 352, the rocker arms being adapted to have their upper surfaces alternately engage pins 353 projecting from the shanks 342 and 343 as indicated in Figure 32.

As best indicated in Figure 30, the arms 34!) and 34! are spaced a suflicient distance apart along the chute 3l-5 to permit a locking lever C2 to be positioned between the same. However, it will be noted that the trunnions C3 of the looking lever may extend beneath the arms 340 and 34! so that actually only the body portion of the locking lever will be positioned between the two arms. In any event, when the lowermost arm 34! is in the downward position illustrated in Figure 30, it will hold the entire line of looking levers against downward movement in the chute 3l5. However, when the upper arm 340 moves down against the upper surface of the chute and the lower arm 34! rises, the lowermost locking lever C2 will slide on down through the section 338 of the chute while arm 34!! holds the remaining locking levers against movement. Then when arm 340 rises and arm 34! drops, the line of locking levers will move downwardly to position the lowermost locking lever against arm 34!.

The feeding element 3!! whereby a locking lever C2 is moved from the lower portion of chute 3!5 to a properly aligned position with a cap blank at that moment supported at the looking lever inserting station 2! is best shown in Figures 4, 2'7, 28 and 36. Feeding device 3!! comprises a lower element 360 and an upper element 36! best shown in assembled position in Figure 27 and both of which elements move in a slideway 362 which projects outwardly from the table I6 in a direction radially of dial As best shown in Figure 28 the upper element 36! is in the form of a bar and is pivotally connected at its outer end as indicated at 363 to a vertical lever 364 which is caused to swing on its pivot 365 (Figure 4) by the action of a cam track 366 best shown in Figure 4 and carried on the large pinion 3! of shaft 38. Cam 366 is engaged by a roller 36! on lever 364, the roller within a recess at it's'forward end a link 38!! of angled form. The lower portion of link 38!! 'is provided with a pin 382 by which it is connected to the lower element368 of feed device 3!!.

' Lower element 360 bear upon the upper surface of the slideway 362 but in order that its movement along the slideway will be somewhat retarded, the lower element 368 is provided with a shoe 383 of friction material urged against the bottom wall of the slideway by means of springs as shown in Figure 2'7 but held in proper position 'on element 36!! by means of a pin extending downwardly from the element. The link 38!!has a forward extension at its upper end which serves as a movable jaw 385 adapted to cooperate with a fixed jaw 386 extended forwardly from lower element 360.

By the above arrangement, including the friction show 383, when the vertically extending lever 364 moves outwardly from the position shown in Figure 27, its outward movement will first cause the upper or bar element 36! to have a translational movement relative to the lower element 360 by a swinging movement of the link 380, thereby lifting the jaw 385 on the link away from the jaw 386 formed on the lower element 360. When the upper element 36! has thus been moved relatively to the lower element so as to open the jaws described above, the continued outward pull by vertical'arm 364 will overcome the friction of the friction shoe 383 so that the two elements of the feeding device will move outwardly along the slideway 362.

Such outward movement oflever 364 will carry the inner portion of the feeding device 3!! to a point directly opposite the lower end of the supply chute 3!5, where it will stop with the movable jaw 385 still raised from the lower and fixed jaw 386. l

The plates 333 and 335 on chute 3!5 and shown in Figure 34 terminate at gate device 3l6, so that a locking lever moving throughthe lower portion 330 of the chute may drop vertically in the chute from the slightly elevated position shown in Figure 34. This will bring the lower portion of the lever hump C!3 into riding contact with the inner edge of the chute wall 326 and prevent the lever from falling forward in the chute. i

In outward and stopped position of feed device 3!! the fixed law 386 will be in such position as regards the chute wall 326 that a locking lever C2 moving down the chute will have its upwardly positioned cam portion 6!! slide directly onto the ledge portion of the fixed jaw 386, as'best indicated in Figure 35a. The locking lever will further be guided to this position on the jaw by reason of the fact that the forward edge 38!! of a pivotal plate 39! will, at that moment, be in alignment with the wall 326 of chute 3l5, thereby positively guiding the locking lever to a position where its cam portion will hang upon the jaw 386.

As best shown in Figure 350., the plate 39! is pivoted in the upper edge of the slideway 362 so that it may swing out of the way of the feed device 3!! when the latter moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 35a. to conduct the looking lever toward the cap blank.

. As soon as the locking lever has been positioned on the jaw 386, as described above, the, rotation of cam 366 will bring a dwell opposite roller 311, so that the springs 36'! may move the feed device 3l5 inwardly. During the initial portion ofthe inward movement of lever 364, the upper or bar element 36! will move inwardly to swing the link 38!! forwardly to a position such as indicated in Figure 28, so that the movable jaw 385 will swing downwardly into contact with the cam portion 0!! of the locking lever hanging on jaw 386. When this clamping action occurs, the continued inward swing of the lever 364 will cause the lower element 36!] to slide inwardly despite the friction effect of shoe 383 in the slideway 362.

The locking lever C2 will thus be moved'by the feed device 3!! to the position illustrated'in Figure 2'7. During the inward movement of feed device 3! 1 the cap blank C supported on'the lower plunger 3!8,.will be lifted by the upward movementof plate'lfl to bring the-liner. L inthe cap blank into contact with the lower-end ofthe upperand spring pressed plunger 3I-9 so that the The plunger 313 will rise sufiiciently far to cause plunger 319 to be entirely retracted against the action of spring 393 within its supporting sleeve 395 fixed in the housing Mild. The cap blank will thus be firmly clamped at the moment that the apertures C9 of its ears C4 come'opposite the trunnions C3 of the locking lever C2.

Immediately the cap blank has been raised to the above described position, a punch 323, best shown in Figure 33, will engage the outer surface of each cap ear C4 so as to bend these ears toward each other a sufiicient distance that the trunnions of the locking lever will project a substantial distance through the ears.

The dies -328 are operated by an arrangement identical with that used at the ear piercingstation I6 and clearly illustrated in Figures '9 to 17, and it is, therefore, thought unnecessary to again describe this construction except to state that it includes a fixed upstanding plate 136a and a plate member 132a reciprocable thereon to 'oscillate, through a rack-structure such as shown in Figures 9 to 17, a pinion element 164a. This will cause the cylindrical rack elements 155a to properly move the dies 320. The reciprocable plate member l32a is moved downwardly against the action of a spring l39a by a rocker-arm I830;-

pivoted on apost 392. Arm l30a includes an upstanding arm 393 which is connected by a link 394 (Figure 3) to a crank arm 395 on rock shaft 15. In order that the fiat face lill may firmly contact with the outer surface of the ear, the upper face of each die 320 is recessed as indicated at 402 to permit the trunnion CH of the locking lever to be nested therein when the die plunger advances.

When the locking lever has been firmly clamped in the cap blank as described above, the dies 320 will retract and the locking lever feeding device 3|! will move outwardly. As has already been described, the initial outward movementof the vertical lever 36A which actuates the feeding device 3|! will cause the movable jaw 385 to rise from the position illustrated in Figure 27. As soon as feeding device 3!? has moved outwardly sufiiciently far that the lower jaw 386 will clear the locking lever now clamped in the cap blank, the plunger 3 l8 will descend to return the cap blank to the position shown in Figure 2'7. Table II will then move several steps forward, until the cap blank slides oif the disc I and down the discharge chute 22.

The rock shaft 352 which actuates the locking lever gate devices 348 and 34! is controlled by lugs 435 and 40B fixed to the upper bar 36| of feed device 351. As diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 27, the lower end of rock shaft 352 is provided with a radially extending crank or arm Ml! positioned in the path of movement of the above mentioned lugs. In Figure 27, the outer lug 405 has contacted with the arm lill to swing it inwardly, having accomplished this action during the latter portion of the inward movement of the feed device 391. The turning movement thus given the rock shaft 352 has rotated the latter a short distance in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 32', so that the upper arm 340 of the gate device 386 has been lifted and the lower arm 34! has been permitted to lower by the action of its spring 3523. The line of locking levers will thus move down against the lower arm 34].

During the latter portion of the following-outward movement of the feed device 3 I I, the innermost lug 433 will contact with the crank 401 to swing the latter outwardly, thereby rotating shaft 352 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 31, so that the lower arm 34! of gate device 3V0 will be raised and the upper arm 343 will be lowered. As a result, the locking lever which has been bearing against the lower arm 3M will slide beneath the latter and down the supply chute 3l5 onto the fixed jaw 33% of the feed device 3| 1. The remaining locking levers will, of course, be stopped by upper arm 340.

The general operation of the entire apparatus has been described above in the portion of the specification entitled General description of the apparatusand its operation and the specific operation of each mechanism of the device has been set forth in connection with the description of the construction of each such mechanism.

It will be noted that all working strokes, i. e., movements-toward cap blanks and locking levers, are accomplished either by springs or through intermediate, cushioning springs. Thus, if the working stroke of any mechanism is prevented by an improperly positioned cap blank or looking lever, damage to the machine will be prevented;

It will be understood that while the various mechanisms described herein are highly efiicient when used together they may be used in combination with other mechanisms.

Subject-matter disclosed, but not claimed, herein, mayform the basis ofclaimsin my divisional application for Cap-forming and assembling machines, Serial No. 477,436, filed February 27, 1943.

The terminology used in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an appparatus of the class described, a feed device for locking levers which locking levers are provided with oppositely disposed pivot trunnions, a support for apertured ear cap blanks, means to move said feed device to position a locking lever carried thereby between the ears of a cap blank on said support with the trunnions in substantial alignment with the apertures of a blank, a pair of dies mounted coaxially and normally spaced apart at opposite sides of said support, and means to move said dies toward each other to engage said ears to move the same about the trunnions of the locking levers to thereby place the trunnions in the ear apertures.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, means to support a cap blank which includes spread-apart apertured ears, means to feed a locking lever including trunnions, means to relatively move said cap support and said feeding means so that the apertures in the ears of the cap blank will be brought into alignment with and positioned outwardly of the trunnions of the locking lever, and means to bend the ears of the cap blank inwardly about the trunnions of the locking lever to thereby place the trunnions in the ear apertures.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a feed device for locking levers which locking levers are provided with pivot trunnions, said feed device being movable along a predetermined line, a support for apertured ear cap blanks movable along a line at an angle to the first line, means to move said feed device and said support relative to each. I

other to bring the apertures of cap ears in align- 

